Electric water heater



July 21, 1936. 1.. P. HAUSSAUER ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Filed Nov. 5, 1935y TA Patented July 21, 1936 Application November 5, 1935, Serial No.48,367 In Great Britain April 26, 1935 7 Claims.

, This invention relates to improvements in electric water heaters ofthe kind in which a hotwater outlet conduit extends through and upwardlyfrom the base of the heating chamber to a point near the top thereof. Inthis kind, hot water is discharged by overflowing into and through theconduit. In this thermo-storage kind of heater the hot water is pushedthrough by the admission of cold water and generally one or more heatingelements is or are mounted on the base of the hollow heater, the basealso having an inlet cock and a baflie, together with the said outletconduit or pipe; admission of cold water near the bottom causes hotwater to be displaced and discharged via the discharge conduit at thetop point aforesaid.

The present invention is directed to the provision of means to preventdripping occasioned by expansion of the water during heating (cold inletshut) causing leakage over the top of the outlet tube.

According to the invention the hot-Water outflow pipe is constructed sothat the eiiective height inside the heater (i. e. the height at whichwater can overflow) can be raised or lowered beneath the normal waterlevel, for which purpose it is longitudinally slidable in the base ofthe heater, and an operating means is employed whereby the dischargepipe is moved as and when a press-in valve controlling the cold-Waterinlet is opened and shut. 7

By this means, the top of the hot-water pipe is raised clear of thenormal water level in the heaters when the cold inlet is shut, andconversely lowered into an overflow discharge position only when thecold inlet is opened (which is the operation performed by the user torun off hot water).

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a pivoted operating leverhaving a suitable handle is employed to slide the pipe, and a cam,rotatable on the lever axis, is fixed in relation to the lever, andco-acts with the operating stud or push-button of the press-in valve.The particu.

lar method of slidably mounting the outlet pipe through the heater baseis also a feature of the invention, and is described later.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference isdirected to the following description and accompanying drawing, wherem:

Figure l is a diagrammatic elevation of a heater according to theinvention (the casing being in section) Figure 2 is a sectionalelevation to a larger scale of the heater base and its various membersattached thereto, the thermostat being omitted;

Figure 3 is an outside elevation of the bottom part looking from theright of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing the double-walled insulating casing of theheater is designated l, the base 2, the heater element casing 3, thehot-water outflow generally by the letter A, the cold-water inlet B, thethermostat casing i, and the thermostat 5.

The outflow pipe A comprises a lower part 6 which slides through a guidecomprising the guide sleeve 1 having the bearing head N). This lowerpart 6 is encircled by a compression spring g inside the guide "a whichnormally exerts a force 15 to keep the pipe A in the highest position.The pipe 6 extends through a closely fitting bearing l!) at the end ofthe sleeve '5 and carries an extension II of larger diameter which has askirt l2 surrounding the sleeve 1. The skirt [2 is spaced away from thesleeve 1 and an air pocket is formed in the space l3 which tends toprevent leakage through bearing I9 and to keep the pipe 6 clean.

The external guide sleeve 3 is slotted on each side so that a pin I 4fixed on each side of the tube 8 may work up and down therethrough. Alever i5 is pivoted at it to a bracket l'l fixed to the sleeve 8. Thelever is stirrup shaped whereby two arms !5 lie one on each side of thesleeve 8; the arms are slotted to engage the pins M. The lever isprovided with an operating handle it. On the same axis 16 is mounted acam l9 which is fixed in relation to the lever l5 so as to movetherewith.

The cold water inlet B is provided with a valve 26 which is of thepress-in type having an operating stud or button 2! adapted to bepressed in against spring action to open the valve. The aforesaid cam l9co-acts with the stud 2| in such manner that rotation of the cam willpress the stud and operate the valve.

In operation, when hot water is required, the handle I8 is moved to theleft (with reference to Figure 3) which immediately depresses the pipe Aby the lever l5, and the expanded hot water flows out. On completion ofthe movement of the handle E8 the cold supply is opened through the cami 9 and operating stud 2|. The inflowing cold water forces out furtherhot water. 0n releasing the handle IS, the cold supply ceases (as thevalve 20 is allowed to close) and the pipe A is automatically raisedabove the water level under the action of the spring 9. The relationshipof cam I9 and. press stud 2| is preferably one wherein on releasing thehandle IS the cold water is shut ofi first allowing the tube A to movewell above the water level.

I claim; a

1 In combination, a liquid receptacle, means including a valve for thesupply of liquid to said receptacle, said valve tending constantly toassume a closed condition and including a normally projected operator tobe depressed to open the valve, a liquid discharge tube within thereceptacle having a top opening disposed normally above the level ofliquid in the receptacle, said tube being movable downwardly to disposeits top openingbelow the level of liquid in the receptacle to permitliquid to flow from the receptacle through said tube, means for raisingand lowering said tube, and means whereby said Valve operator isdepressed in response to actuation. of said first mentioned means tolower said tube.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the means forraising and lowering the tube including a valve for the supply of liquidto said receptacle, a liquid discharge tube within the V receptaclehaving a top opening and movable upwardly to a position in which saidopening is disposed above the level of liquid in the receptacle toprevent flow of liquid from the receptacle and movable downwardly to aposition in which said opening is disposed below the level of liquid 'inthe receptacle to permit liquid to flow from the receptacle through saidtube, yieldable means tending constantly to urge said tube upwardly toits first mentioned position, means for moving said tube downwardly toits second mentionedposition, and means whereby said valveis closed andopened responsive to said movements of said tube, respectively.

4, In combination, a liquid receptacle, means including a normallyclosed valve for the supply of liquid to said receptacle, a verticallymovable liquid discharge tube within the receptacle hava ing a topopening, yieldable means tendingrconstantly to move said tube upwardlyto a position in which its top opening is disposed above the level ofliquid in the receptacle, means for moving said tube'downwardly to aposition in which its top opening is disposed below the level ofiliquidin the receptacle, and means movable with said last named means andoperable upon tube lowering movement of said last named means to opensaid valve. 7 i 5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 in which themeans for moving the tube downwardly comprises a lever having aconnection with the tube, and in which the means for opening the valvecomprises a cam. V r 6. In combination, a liquid recepacle having abottom wall, means including a normally closed valve forthe supply ofliquid to said receptacle,

a tubular member rising from said bottom wall,

a vertically disposed tube within said member and vertically slidabletherein, a skirt carried by said tube and closed at its top with respectto said tube and extending downwardly over said member, said tube havinga top opening, means tending constantly to move said tube upwardly to aposition in which its top opening is disposed above the level of liquidin the receptacle to prevent flow of liquid from the receptacle throughsaid tube, means 'ior'moving said tube downwardly to a position in whichits top opening is disposed below the level of liquid in the receptacleto permit flow of liquid from the receptacle through said tube, andmeans whereby actuation of said last named means to lower said tubeopens said valve.

'7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 in which the means tendingconstantly to urge the tube upwardly comprises a spring housed withinsaid hollow member. .i

LOUIS PAUL HAUSSAUER.

